Tubing tester valves



Aug. 29, 1967 B. SCOTT TUBING TESTER VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1964 INVENTOR.

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TUBING TESTER VALVES Filed Dec. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 .ZYLE .5. $6077 I NVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,338,312 TUBING TESTER VALVES Lyle B. Scott, South Gate, Calif., assignor to Byron Jackson Inc., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 8, 1%4, Ser. No. 416,764 8 Claims. 01. 166-226) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to valves, and more particularly to a valve useful in the running of oil field pipe or tubing to enable the testing of the pipe or tubing as it is being run into a well whereby to determine the existence of leaks.

In certain oil and gas well treatments subsurface packers are run into the well casing or well bore on a string of well pipe, drill pipe or tubing, hereinafter generally referred to as tubing, and such packers are actuated to effect a seal between the tubing and the well casing, so that fluid under pressure may be pumped down the tubing string through the packer and into the subterranean earth formation. Such practice's prevail, for example, in the hydraulic fracturing or acidizing of the formation, as well as in the forcing or squeezing of pumpable cement slurry into the formation.

During running of the tubing string it is made up in lengths or stands by means of threaded joints and the tubing string may be a number of thousands of feet in length. Therefore, it is desirable to periodically test the tubing as it is being run to determine the existence of a leak, either at a joint or otherwise. To enable this, tubing tester valves are employed which should be so constructed as to enable repetitive testing, say after a desired number of lengths or stands of pipe have been added to the string. Testing involves closing the valve in the tubing string and pressurizing the tubing above the valve to determine whether it is pressure tight. In addition, the valve should be compatible with the packer, that is, the packer should be operable through the tubing tester valve, and such packers typically may require rotation of the tubing string as well as longitudinal movement of the tubing string.

Inasmuch as the tubing tester valve is in the path of well treating fluids, it is also desirable that the valve be so constructed as to not afford a restriction to the flow of fluid, or for that matter, the passage of any tool that can pass through the tubing. In addition, since the valve may be closed under high pressure, as for example when the valve is beneath a hydrostatic pressure of a column several thousand feet deep, it is desirable that the valve be easily opened independently of the magnitude of pressure tending to hold it closed.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a tubing tester valve assembly having a full opening valve which offers no obstruction to the passage of well tools therethrough and causes no restriction in the flow path of well treating fluids.

3,338,312 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 Another object is to provide such a tubing tester valve which is easy to open, and which in the furtherance of this object is constructed so that in an initial stage of its opening the pressure differential across the valve is balanced, and thereafter the valve is fully opened.

Still another object is to provide a tubing tester valve that not only has the above features, but which also is compatible with packers therebelow which require tubing roation and/or longitudinal movements to effect setting of the packer.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a simple link actuated valve which is operative responsive to relative longitudinal movement of a pair of telescopic body parts to close against a seat, the seat being moved away from the valve when the same is to be opened, while the valve is temporarily supported, thereby allowing the balancing of the pressure in the housing, the valve then being moved wholly to one side of the flow passage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter describd or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section, with certain parts shown in elevation, through a valve assembly made in accordance with the invention, and in a closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the valve assembly of FIG. 1 in an open condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section, showing the valve in an initially open position, with the valve seat retracted from the valve;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing the valve fully open;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 66 of FIG. 1.

Like reference characters in the specification and in the drawings designate corresponding parts.

The tubing tester valve of the present invention is illustrated as including an upper and outer tubular body 1 in which is telescopically disposed a lower and inner tubular body 2. At its upper end, the body 1 has a coupling 3 affording means for connecting the body 1 to an upwardly extended length of tubing T. The lower end of body 2 has a coupling 4 affording means for connection to a downwardly extended length of the tubing T which may lead to a well packer (not shown) as is well known in the art.

Means are provided for allowing limited relative rota tion and longitudinal movement between the body 1 and the body 2. In the illustrative embodiment such means includes a pair of circumferentially extended slots 1a and 1b in the lower section of body 1, these slots 1a and 1b leading oppositely from an elongated slot 10 which extends therebetween. Projecting from the body 2 is a pin 2a which engages the body 1 in the slots to permit relative rotation of the bodies to the extent of the circumferential slots 1a and 1b and to permit longitudinal movement of the bodies to the extent of the slot 1c. Otherwise, the pin 2a connects the bodies to enable the transmission of torque or longitudinal movement by the tubing T to a packer installed below the body 2.

Suitable sealing means are provided so that the telescopic bodies are fluid-tight and well treating fluids may be pumped therethrough. Such sealing means may conveniently comprise an O-ring 5 intermediate the ends of the body 2 sealingly engaging in the bore 6 of body 1 throughout the range of relative telescopic movement ofthe bodies.

The upper section of the inner body is disposed within an enlarged bore 7 in the upper end of the outer body and has valve means V connected thereto and engageable therewith so as to prevent the flow of fluid downwardly through the flow passage 8 which extends through the body 2 when the body 2 is in an upward position in the body 1 but allowing flow through passage 8 when the body 2 is in a downward position relative to the body 1.

Valve V comprises a flap or disc 10 having a diameter or size larger than the upper end face 11 of the body 2, the face 11 constituting a seating surface engageable by the seating surface 12 of the flap 10. Flap 10 is pivotally supported on the upper end of the body 2 by means of yoke 13 which seats in an annular groove 14 in the body 2 formed between flanges 15 and 16 which project from the body 2. A lug or ear 17 projects from the yoke 13 upwardly past body flanges 15 and the flap 10 is pivotally connected to the lug 17 by means of a pivot pin 18. In this connection, the lug 17 is disposed in a marginal slot 19 in the flap 10 and the pin 18 extends through openings 20 in the adjacent portions of the flap and through the lug 17. For a purpose which will hereinafter be more fully described, the openings 20 for pin 18 are elongated in a direction axially of the flap 10 so that there is effectively a pivotal and lost motionconnection of the flap to the upper end of body 2.

At a location diametrically opposite the just described connection of flap 10 to the body 2, the flap is also connected to the body 1 by means of a link 21. This link 21 is pivotally connected by a pin 22 to the flap 10, the pin extending through ribs 23 and 24 on the face of flap 10 opposite seating face 12 thereof, and the link being, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, adapted to extend between the ribs 23 and 24 when the valve is closed. At its other end the link 21 is pivotally connected to the body by means of a pin 25. Pin 25 extends through an opening in a support lug 26 provided within body 1 and through elongated openings 27 in end ears 28 of link 21 so that the link is connected to the body 1 by an effective lost motion connection.

In order to maintain alignment of the flap 10, link 21, and link connecting lug 26 of body 1 notwithstanding relative angular movement of the body 2, as permitted by yoke 13, a rib or key 30 extends lengthwise within the body 1 and the yoke has a keyway 31, as best seen in FIG. 3, complemental to the rib 30. The rib 30 is aligned with lug 26 and the yoke will thus, in all positions of bodies 1 and 2, remain oriented with the link 21, the center of its pivotal connections with the flap and with body 1, and the center of the pivotal connection of the flap 10 with the yoke, in a common plane extended lengthwise of the assembly and extending diametrically from the rib 30.

As previously stated, the structure is such that the valve may be initially opened to balance pressure across the valve. Accordingly, the body 1 has means for engaging the side of flap 10 opposite to its pivotal connection to the body 2 or yoke 13 to sustain the force holding the valve closed as opening movements of bodies 1 and 2 commence. Such means includes a lug 33 provided in the body 1 at a location spaced slightly downward from the plane of the maximum upward position of seating surface 11 of body 2. This lug 33 is illustrated as being at the lower end of a rib 34 in the body 1. As seen in FIG. 3, the lug 33 will engage the flap 10 in the initial stage of upward movement of body 1, so that continued upward movement of body 1 will cause the flap 10 to be canted as the seat 11 moves relatively away from the flap 10, such canting being permitted by the lost motion connection of link 21 to body 1 and flap 10 to body 2.

In the use of the valve assembly it will be run into a well in a tubing string, with the valve open as shown in FIG. 2 so as to offer no restriction to flow through the valve of the fluid standing in the well bore. When the valve is open it will be noted that the flap 10 is disposed vertically entirely to one side of the bore 7, the link 21 being similarly disposed, and the flap and link being extended toggle fashion. When it is desired to test the tubing, the tubing will be rotated to the right to move body 1 to a position with slot 10 aligned with the pin 2a. The valve flap 10 and link 21 will rotate with body 1 due to the keyed connection between yoke 13 and rib 30 in body 1. Downward movement of body 1 relative to body 2 will cause the valve flap to swing progressively inwardly due to the toggle link connection with link 21, until the body 1 reaches the limit of its downward movement relative to body 2. Further right hand rotation of body 1 will positionbody pin 2a at the end of slot 1a, as seen in FIG. 1, and the flap will be in engagement with the seating surface 11 on body 2. It will be understood that the lug 33 will be cleared by the flap 10 during final increment of downward movement of body 1. Preferably, this final increment of motion is provided by disposing slot In at a slight lead or helix angle, as seen in FIG. 1. In addition, it will be noted that the above mentioned lost motion connections of the link 21 to the body 1 and flap 10 to body 2 will permit the flap to be cammed slightly laterally by the lug 33 if necessary, to enable the side of the flap approaching the lug to clear the latter during the final increment of motion.

With the valve in the closed condition as shown in FIG. 1, fluid pressure may be applied to the tubing T above the valve to complete a test.

Following testing, the above operation is reversed so that the valve will be open as shown in FIG. 2. However, the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid column in tubing T may be substantial tending to hold the flap on the seat. Therefore, in the initial increment of upward movement of body 1, as it is rotated to align pin 2a with slot 10, the lost motion connections enable the flap 10 to remain engaged with seating surface 11 so that lug 33 will engage and support flap 10, and continued upward movement of body 1 will cause flap 1 to be canted off the surface 11, as seen in FIG. 3. Thus, the pressure across flap 10 is balanced without overloading the pin connections between the link and the valve and between the link and the body 1 or the valve and the body 2.

The above operations may be repeated as often as desired, and the necessary longitudinal and rotary movement may be transmitted through the assembly to effect operation of the usual packer below the valve mechanism.

While specific structural details have been shown and described, it should be understood that changes and alterations may be restored to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tubing, tester valve, comprising: inner and outer tubular bodies telescopically engaged one within the other and having flow passages therethrough, said inner body having an upwardly facing seating surface circumscribing its flow passage, a valve flap, a link having an end pivotally connected to said flap, the other end of said link being pivotally connected to one of said bodies and said flap being pivotally connected to the other of said bodies, means for interconnecting said bodies for telescopic movement between a first position with said flap and link extended transversely of said bodies and with said flap transversely of said bodies and with said flap engaged with said seating surface and a second position with said link and flap extended longitudinally of said bodies wholly to one side of the flow passage in said outer body, and means engageable with said flap to hold the same against pivotal movement from said transversely extended position -dur ing an initial increment of telescopic movement of said body members.

2. A tubing tester v-alve as defined in claim 1, including lost motion pivot connections between said link and said one body and betwen said flap and said other body.

3. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 2, including means rotatably connecting said flap to said other body, said means interconnecting said bodies including means for permitting limited relative rotation of said bodies, and

means for holding said means connecting said flap to said other body against rotation relative to said other body.

4. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an upper and outer tubular body, a lower and inner tubular body telescopically engaged in said outer tubular body, said inner body having a transverse seating surface at its inner end, a link and a flap, means pivotally connecting one end of said link to said flap, means pivotally connecting the other end of said link to said outer body, means pivotally connecting said flap to said inner body adjacent said sealing surface, and means interconnecting said bodies for limited telescopic movement between a first position with said flap and said link disposed transversely of said bodies and with said flap engaged with said seat and a second position with said flap and said link extended longitudinally of said bodies between said seating surface and the connection of said link to said outer body and Wholly to one side of said outer body, and said means pivotally connecting said link to said outer body and said flap to said inner body including a lost-motion connection, and including means on said outer body for canting said flap off of said seating surface in an initial stage of telescopic movement of said bodies from said first position.

5. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an upper and outer tubular body, a lower and inner tubular body telescopically engaged in said outer tubular body, said inner body having a transverse seating surface at its inner end, a link and a flap, means pivotally connecting one end of said link to said flap, means pivotally connecting the other end of said link to said outer body, means pivotally connecting said flap to said inner body adjacent said seating surface, means interconnecting said bodies for limited telescopic movement between a first position with said flap and said link disposed transversely of said bodies and with said flap engaged with said seat and a second position with said tfiap and said link extended longitudinally of said bodies between said seating surface and the connection of said link to said outer body and wholly to one side of said outer body, and means for canting said flap off of said seating surface in an initial stage of telescopic movement of said bodies from said first position, said means interconnecting said bodies including means permitting limited relative rotation of said bodies, and including means rotatably mounting said means pivotally connecting said flap to said inner member.

6. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an outer tubular body, an inner tubular body telescopically and sealingly engaged in said outer tubular body, said inner body having a transverse seating surface at its inner end, a valve member pivoted in one of said bodies at one side thereof for pivotal movement between a first position extended transversely of said bodies in engagement with said seating surface and a second position extending longitudinally of said bodies and to one side thereof, means in the other of said bodies connected to said flap for moving the same between said positions upon opposite telescopic movement of said bodies, means on said other of said bodies engageable with said flap to cant the flap off of said seating surface during an initial stage of said telescopic movement of said bodies, and including coenga-ged means on said bodies for effecting such initial stage of telescopic movement of said bodies responsive to relative rotation of said bodies.

7. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an outer tubular body, an inner tubular body telescopically and sealingly engaged in said outer tubular body, said inner body having a transverse seating surface at its inner end, means on said bodies for limiting telescopic movement thereof in opposite directions, a flap valve, means pivotally supporting said flap valve at the inner end of said inner body at one side of the latter, a link, means pivotally mounting an end of said link in said outer body, means pivotally connecting the other end of said link to said flap, said flap being engageable with said seating surface in one relative position of said bodies and being moved by said link to one side of said bodies upon telescopic movement of said bodies to another relative position, and means on said outer body engageable with said flap to cant the same off of said seating surface during an initial stage of telescopic movement of said bodies from said one position to said other position, and said means for limiting telescopic movement of said bodies including means for locking said bodies against telescopic movement responsive to relative rotation of said body in either of said positions, and said means supporting said flap on said inner body including means enabling relative rotation of said inner body and said flap.

8. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an outer tubular body, an inner tubular body telescopically and sealingly engaged in said outer tubular body, said inner body having a transverse seating surface at its inner end, means on said bodies for limiting telescopic movement thereof in opposite directions, a flap valve, means pivotally supporting said flap valve at the inner end of said inner body at one side of the latter, a link, means pivotally mounting an end of said link in said outer body, means pivotally connecting the other end of said link to said flap, said flap being engageable with said seating surface in one relative position of said bodies and being moved by said link to one side of said bodies upon telescopic movement of said bodies to another relative position, and means on said outer body engageable with said flap to cant the same off of said seating surface during an initial stage of telescopic movement of said bodies from said one position to said other position, and said means for limiting telescopic movement of said bodies including means for locking said bodies against telescopic movement responsive to relative rotation of said body in either of said positions, said means supporting said flap on said inner body including means enabling relative rotation of said inner body and said flap, and means for holding said flap against rotation relative to said outer body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,812,820 11/1957 Nelson 166224 2,841,171 7/1958 Baker et a1 166224 XR 2,853,265 9/1958 Clark l66226 XR 2,874,927 2/1959 Conrad 166-226 XR 2,921,601 1/1960 Fisher 251339 XR 3,086,594 4/1963 Keithahn 166226 DAVID SCHON'BERG, Primary Examiner. LOUIS R. PRINCE, Examiner. JEFFREY NOLTON, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,338,312 August 29, 1967 Lyle B. Scott It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 5, line 10, for "sealing" read seating Signed and sealed this 15th day of October 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A TUBING TESTER VALVE, COMPRISING: INNER AND OUTER TUBULAR BODIES TELESCOPICALLY ENGAGED ONE WITHIN THE OTHER AND HAVING FLOW PASSAGES THERETHROUGH, SAID INNER BODY HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING SEATING CIRCUMSCRIBING ITS FLOW PASSAGE, A VALVE FLAP, A LINK HAVING AN END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FLAP, THE OTHER END OF SAID LINK BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID BODIES, FLAP BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID BODIES, MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID BODIES FOR TELESCOPIC MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WITH SAID FLAP AND LINK EXTENDED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BODIES AND WITH SAID FLAP TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BODIES AND WITH SAID FLAP ENGAGED WITH SAID SEATING SURFACE AND A SECOND POSITION WITH SAID LINK AND FLAP EXTENDED LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BODIES WHOLLY TO ONE SIDE OF THE FLOW PASSAGE IN SAID OUTER BODY, AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FLAP TO HOLD THE SAME AGAINST PIVOTAL MOVEMENT FROM SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDED POSITION DURING AN INITIAL INCREMENT OF TELESCOPIC MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY MEMBERS. 